problems: date formatting and auto-entry of dates

[isen]

I have been using a FM6 DB as a lab notebook for the past 3 years. I recently upgraded to FM7 and migrated my old files over to FM7. My layout has a date field that is set to auto-enter the current date upon creation of a new record. When I created the FM6 DB, I had my Control Panel:International:Date settings set to DD.MM.YYYY and the field format was set to be the same, but now I have both these settings set to standard US usage. So now in FM, I have the date field set to be formatted MM/DD/YYYY and I have the Use System Formats checked. My problem is that when FM7 does the auto-entry, it enters the date as DD.MM.YYYY and causes a validation error in that field (I see a '?' in the field). If I then manually change the date to MM/DD/YYYY, FM7 accepts it. This behavior occurs whether or not I have the Use System Formats checked. However, the date shows up DD/MM/YYYY if I uncheck Use System Formats (it toggles between DD/MM/YYYY and MM/DD/YYYY when I check and uncheck it, but never shows up using a period as the separator). How do I make FM7 enter the date in the field in the correct format? I have read in the help that some of the formatting settings from when the file was created are somehow embedded in the file. . .how can I strip them out or make my files 'relearn' their formatting and international settings?

[H.P.]

When there's a question mark, that means the field is not big enough Just increase the field's width a little, and you will see full-formatted date.

[isen]

thanks for the quick response, H.P. but, i have tried that and it doesn't help.

[H.P.]

Um, if you cannot find a solution to that problem and all else failed, try to work around with this:

Instead of auto-enter with date, make it auto-enter with calculation and put in this: = get(todaydate).

If it still doensn't auto-format or still displays the question mark, try to put this in the calculation: = month(get(todaydate)) & "/" & day(get(todaydate)) & "/" & year(get(todaydate))

It's a rather stupid work around but it works I think. I bet someone else might have a better solution.

[isen]

does get(todaydate) work with FM7? I thought I saw that this function is no longer implemented in FM7.

[-Queue-]

That function doesn't exist in any version. Get( CurrentDate ) is what you want. It's equivalent to Status( CurrentDate ) in previous versions. 'Today' is the function that's no longer available.

[H.P.]

Ooopse... I didn't rem. the exact name for that function. Sorry Isen

[isen]

thanks for the help and workarounds. but, is there a way to "reset" the international settings of my datbase? i am referring to the fact that i read in the help that FM DBs retain the international formatting settings from when they were created. can i make my DBs to have US formatting?

[isen]

i tried using

Date=Month(Get(CurrentDate)) & "/" & Day(Get(CurrentDate)) & "/" & Year(Get(CurrentDate))

this resulted in an empty field.

[H.P.]

Did you try this: file -> file option -> text -> data entry -> use system settings?

For the caculation above to work, put only this in the caculated value:

Month(Get(CurrentDate)) & "/" & Day(Get(CurrentDate)) & "/" & Year(Get(CurrentDate))

Also, if you use this approach, please set the field type to text.

[isen]

yes, i have the "always use system settings" box checked.

i have my records sorted by date (the date that is in the problematic field). if i set the field type to text, will my sorting still work correctly?

[RalphL]

Have you tried making a clone of your file with the options set for US dates? The clone should have the correct format.

[isen]

oh, i forgot. . .i only had

Month(Get(CurrentDate)) & "/" & Day(Get(CurrentDate)) & "/" & Year(Get(CurrentDate))

in the calculated value field as you suggested.

[isen]

doesn't a clone of a file have the formatting but not the data? i'd like to keep my data. . .

or should i clone the file and then import the data from the old db into the new cloned db?

[isen]

saving a copy of the file and then tyring to work with the copy doesn't solve the problem (dates are still auto-entered as dd.mm.yyyy)

[RalphL]

It has to be a clone not a copy. After the clone is made, you will have to import the data from the oridginal file.

[isen]

well, that's sort of a pain, but it worked. thanks for all the help.

seems to me there should be an easier way. . .

cheers,

tom

[RalphL]

You only have to do it once. It is certainly less painful than most of the other suggestions.